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Gose receiving chance to win left-field job in '13

Gose receiving chance to win left-field job in '13

BALTIMORE -- Rookie outfielder Anthony Gose is receiving an extended look in left field as the Blue Jays attempt to determine whether he is an option for 2013.

Gose was originally called up in the middle of July, but spent the vast majority of his time in right field to replace the injured Jose Bautista. Recently, though, most of his work has come in left.

The purpose behind the switch is that the Blue Jays are still uncertain who will be their everyday guy in left next season and are trying to get as much of an evaluation on Gose as possible.

"That's exactly what it is," manager John Farrell said. "For us to get as accurate of a read as we can and give him time in innings played at that position ... sure, there's a direct view of him in that position."

Gose struggled during his initial stint, but has looked more comfortable since rejoining the club as a September callup.

Entering Tuesday, the 22-year-old was hitting .263 with a .333 on-base percentage while recording six stolen bases and being caught just once in September. His approach at the plate is a work in progress, but the Blue Jays like what they have seen.

Typically, numbers posted in the season's final month have to be taken with a grain of salt because of the expanded rosters and Minor Leaguers getting extended playing time at the next level.

That's still the case this year, but Farrell believes the numbers are a little more realistic because of Toronto's current schedule where 20 of its 29 games this month are against teams competing for a spot in the postseason.

"Without a doubt," Farrell said. "As we felt last night, or you feel in Tampa, or certainly in New York, it's a different atmosphere when you're playing a team in the place they are in the standings and what they're competing for.

"It is more of an accurate read, it's not your traditional September callups against callups in a Major League setting. We're getting the best thrown at us, evident by the type of stuff that's coming off the mound in any one of these series."